When the dead roam - (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 51 - Amo?

The air seemed to get colder as the hours passed. Tracks were far and few but between Daryl and Louise, tracking was easier than the kill itself. Although it came easy to the young female, hunting was something she rather enjoyed; even if tracking a human was substantially straightforward. Her feet were aching and her muscles burned but she fought to keep up with Rick and Daryl as they ran. Every inch of her screamed to stop but giving up wasn't in her nature.

She was sick of looking at the same old green scenery and as a large black box came into view, she relished in seeing something remotely different.

"Wait, wait" she said quickly, slowing her pace and jogging towards the broken vending machine that sat in the middle of the road. "It's the same one as before"

Daryl crouched beside the container, punched through the already cracked glass and pulled out more small orange cans.

"This was a special request from the doctor" he stated, pulling drink after drink from between the large silver springs. He wiggled his finger underneath the tab and cracked open the soda, taking a long swig before passing it to Lou.

"Hey, whatever she wants" Rick said, waiting patiently for his friend to empty the machine. "She saved Carl's life. We didn't know her and she turned out to be alright. If there's still people out there, and they're good people, we should bring them in"

"What, like this guy?" Daryl asked, stuffing the last can into his backpack.

"No, no, not this guy" He sighed before turning towards Lou, who handed him the remaining drink. . "You said you knew him?"

"Yeah" she nodded, "Yeah, long time ago"

Daryl flung the full bag over his shoulders. "He good people?"

"He was...but I haven't seen him years, he could be a completely different person now" she stated, turning back to the road. "We still got a trail, lets go"

The two men nodded at her, knowing full well that they shouldn't press the matter. Once again, they took off down the road, running at a steady pace but it wasn't long before their van came into view. Jesus stood at the bottom of a small hill, checking the contents of the van.

"Alright" Lou whispered. She stopped just shy of the hill's peak. "Rick, you go right, Daryl left. I'll kick his ass if he tries to run"

They moved forward in formation, strategically walking towards their target. Their stockpile was in sniffing distance and they were hell-bent on getting it back. As Jesus pulled down the shutter, Rick grabbed him from behind and wrapped his arms around the man's chest.

"Hold still and maybe we won't hurt you" he grumbled in his ear as Jesus struggled under the hold.

"Yeah, sure thing" he muttered before connecting the back of his head with Rick's jaw. He spun on his heel, punched Rick in the gut and kneed him in the ribs before running towards the door. Rick scrambled to his feet in time to see Daryl kick Jesus in the stomach and throw a right hook. Jesus pulled Daryl down by the collar of his jacket. He launched the hunter into the side of the van, the cans in his bag rupturing upon impact. Before he had chanced to dart away again, Lou tackled him from the side and shoved the toe of her boot into his abdomen.

The trio pulled their guns out simultaneously and aimed them at the man on the floor.

"This is done" Rick spat.

Jesus scoffed and shook his head. "Do you even have any amo?"

Three bullets penetrated a stray walker to their left and the dead body dropped. Three holes were left in it's forehead, oozing thick black blood. Rick smirked at Daryl.

"You're gonna shoot me over a truck?"

"There's a lot of food on that truck" Rick stated, holding his hand out in front of him. "They keys, now"

"Come on" Jesus rolled his eyes. "I think we all know I'm not a bad guy"

"Yeah? What do you know about us?"

"Well I know a lot about your friend Louise there" He said. Lou narrowed her eyes. "Not really the type to join a group now, are you Lou?"

"Shut the hell up Paul, you stole out truck" she snapped.

"Oh, so it's Paul now? As I recall, we used to be friends" he sat up slightly and rested his weight on his hands. "I thought it was just you, Shaun and your daughter?"

Louise looked to the ground as Rick's eyes widened. He looked towards her and then to Daryl, who gave him a subtle nod in response. She cleared her throat and avoided direct eye contact.

"Where is little Hollie?"

She removed the safety off her gun. "I suggest you shut your mouth. Now"

"Oh...god, Lou..I'm so-"

Daryl kicked his leg and moved his gun closer. "I believe she told you to shut the hell up"

"This is the last time I'm askin'" Rick sighed, moving towards Jesus. "The keys"

Reluctantly, Jesus pulled the keys from his jacket pocket and handed them to the sheriff. He nodded in triumph, retrieved two ropes from the van's interior and proceeded to tie up his hands and feet. Lou moved away from the men and rested against the body of the vehicle, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Daryl lifted his wet bag from the ground and grimaced as the soda spilled out from the bottom.

"Son of a bitch"

"You just gonna leave me like this? You really gonna do this?" Jesus asked, staring directly at Lou.

"Yep, knots aren't that tight. Should be able to break free...once we're long gone" Rick smirked, finishing the last knot and walking towards the drivers side. He tossed the keys in the air a few times as he walked, catching them a few seconds later.

Jesus wriggled slightly. "Louise, really?"

She rolled her eyes at him and watched as Daryl violently shook a can of soda and tossed it at his feet.

"Here, 'case you get thirsty" he spat, tapping Lou on the shoulder and pulling open the van door. "Comin'?"

"Yeah" she sighed, avoiding Jesus's gaze as she slipped into the gap between the seats again. Daryl slammed the door shut behind him and held his hand out the window, his middle finger sticking up.

"SO LONG, YOU PRICK!" he shouted, placing his feet up in the dashboard and chuckling to himself.